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The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional
theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. Ten
theatre colleagues formed
Iowa's first professional theatre company in a vacant building that had once served the community of Garrison as a co-op dairy – hence the name. In 1988,
at the invitation of The Amana Society, The Old Creamery Theatre Company opened its first season in Amana.
Since its founding, the company has been dedicated to performing
high-quality, live professional theatre for audiences of all ages and
interests, and offers a wide variety of plays each season. The company
constantly strives to represent the experimental and repertory
presentation of both approved and untried dramatic works.
1970 - An article appeared in the Des Moines Register describing the
growing arts community in Garrison, Iowa, and the hope of the artists
that there would soon be a live theatre there.
1971 - The Old Creamery's founding members move to Garrison to start
The Old Creamery as a non-profit arts organization. The company's very
first show, SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY, is presented at the Garrison Brick
and Tile Works, and the first production was offered on tour to
citizens of Iowa.
1972 - The company's first performing space opens in an abandoned
creamery building with a production of TWO FRENCH FARCES. Renovation
of the building continues for the next 23 years. Martha-Ellen Tye of
Marshalltown provides funds to purchase a touring bus. This was the
first of a series of significant annual contributions that helped to
sustain The Company through its entire history.
1973 - The company opens its first season on the Clinton Showboat,
where the company performed for a total of six seasons.
1975 - The annual operating budget surpassed the $100,000 mark.
1976 - The company performs in over 200 communities in Iowa and the
Midwest with a grant from the Iowa Bicentennial Commission. Meg
Merckens joins the company.
1977 - The company offers its first season at Dubuque's Five Flags Theatre.
1979 - The company opens its first studio theatre at the former
Garrison Elementary School building.
1980 - The company receives The Governor's Distinguished Service Award
for service to the state of Iowa and a $70,000 two-year grant from The
Joyce Foundation of Chicago.
1981 - The company celebrates its 10th birthday party.
1983 - The company, dependent on the farm economy, is adversely
effected by the farm crisis in Iowa.
1985 - The company narrowly avoids bankruptcy and begins a recovery
from a debt of over $300,000.
1986 - The theatre receives an $85,000 Advancement Grant from the
National Endowment for the Arts for artistic excellence.
1988 - At the invitation of The Amana Society, the theatre opens its
first season at the welcome center in Amana. This first season is
underwritten by The Society and by many Amana Merchants that were
members of The Amana Colonies Convention and Visitors Bureau.
1991 - The company celebrates its 20th birthday party.
1992 - The first "Cowchip Jamboree" performs in Garrison Courtyard.
Sean McCall joins the company.
1996 - The company celebrates its 25th anniversary. The Garrison
performance space closed.
1998 - The company celebrates its 10th year in Amana.
2000 - The Company performs its 30th Anniversary children's tour, GRAB
'EM BY THE TALE! throughout the state of Iowa. The recovery from the
financial crisis of 1985 is finally complete.
2001 - The company celebrates its 30th anniversary.
2002 - The Studio stage opens at old Amana train depot.
2004 - The company purchases a home in West Amana to house visiting
artists and interns.
2006 - The Old Creamery celebrates its 35th Anniversary Season.
Producing director and founding member Tom Johnson retires.
2007 - David Kilpatrick joins the Old Creamery as new Producing
Artistic Director.
2008 - The Old Creamery celebrates 20 years of performing in Amana.
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